The relation of family cohesion to marital adjustment

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between family cohesion and marital adjustment. The sample consisted of 70 married graduate students from the State University of New York at Buffalo. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale was used to measure family cohesion. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale was used to measure marital adjustment. The Demographic Data Sheet was used for demographic characteristics. Overall, the result of ANOVA with planned comparison revealed that high marital adjustment was not only associated with a moderate level of family cohesion but also associated with a high level of family cohesion.This article is based on the first author's doctoral dissertation at State University of New York at Buffalo.     

MODELING PROBABIUSTIC CATEGORIZATION DATA:

Abstract— In probabilistic categorization tasks, the correct category is determined only probabilistically by the stimulus pattern Data from such experiments have been successfully accounted for by a simple network model, but have posed difficulties for exemplar models In the present article, we consider an exemplar model, CLEM (concept learning by exemplar memorization), which differs from previously tested exemplar models in that exemplar traces are assumed to be stored only when the subject has guessed or made a classification error Fits of CLEM to both learning and test data were comparable to those of the network model, and better than those obtained for a version of CLEM in which encoding was independent of the subject's response The implications of these results for the processes underlying classification decisions are discussed.     

Current status of psychological research in organ transplantation

Research addressing the psychological concomitants of organ transplantation is reviewed. Specifically, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial correlates of kidney, heart, liver, and bone marrow transplantation in both children and adults are discussed. Despite several conceptual and methodological shortcomings of the psychologically-based research in this area, results seem to indicate that organ transplantation is associated with many psychological issues at pretransplantation, posttransplantation, and follow-up periods. Implications of these general findings for the advancing roles of the health psychologist in organ transplantation are discussed.     

The measurement of locus of control in black preschool and primary school children

Developed a form of the Preschool and Primary Nowicki-Strickland locus of control scale (PPNSIE) for use with black children (PPNSIE-B). The psychometric data suggest that the new scale is worthy of further examination and development.     

The effects of reciprocal reactivity on positively and negatively valenced self-rated behaviors

Reactivity refers to behavioral changes that occur in a target behavior when some assessment procedure is used to record that behavior (Webb. Campbell. Schwanz and Sechrest, 1966). One example of these reactive effects is the change in response frequency that occurs when individuals are asked to self-record their own behavior. Several studies have demonstrated that self-recorded behaviors will increase or decrease in frequency (Ciminero. Nelson and Lipinski. 1977). Kanfer (1970) speculated that the direction of this reactive behavior change is related to the social norms or valence of the response. Thus, appropriate or positively valenced behaviors are likely to increase when they are self-monitored whereas inappropriate or negatively valenced behaviors would be more likely to decrease (e.g. Broden. Hall and Mitts. 1971).Cavior and Marabotto (1976) directly examined the effects of behavior valence on the direction of change due to self-monitoring. They used heterosexual dyads to compare the effects of various monitoring procedures on behaviors that were selected by subjects as having one of three valences: High social desirability, neutral social desirability, or low social desirability. They found that the valence of a target behavior was important in determining the direction of change: positive verbal behaviors increased whereas negative verbal behaviors decreased during the dyadic interactions.Reactive effects other than those found in self-monitoring have also received some attention. In an examination of the parameters of reactivity Ciminero. Graham and Jackson (1977) studied a phenomenon they labelled reciprocal reactivity. This term describes the behavior changes that occur in individuals who are asked to record the behavior of others. Ciminero et al. reported four single-case designs in which parameters of reciprocal reactivity were examined in female dyads. In the first three experiments, various motor responses (e.g. leg-kicking, head-nodding, or face-touching) decreased in subjects when they were asked to monitor those behaviors in their partners. The fourth experiment showed that self-monitoring resulted in greater decreases in response rate than did the reciprocal reactivity.As with self-monitoring, the valence of the target behavior may have an important influence on the direction of the behavior change due to reciprocal reactivity. Since the valence of behaviors targeted in the study by Cimineroet al. (1977) were not specifically evaluated the effects of valence could not be established. Therefore, the present study was designed to replicate the effects of reciprocal reactivity and to examine the influence of the valence of the target behaviors.     

MODIFICATION OF ACTIVITY LEVEL THROUGH BIOFEEDBACK AND OPERANT CONDITIONING1

The biomotometer, an electronic device that simultaneously measures activity and provides auditory feedback to the subject, was used in combination with material reinforcers in two experiments attempting to modify activity level in children. In the first study the activity level of an 11-year-old highly active boy was decreased below mean baseline during conditioning in a classroom setting. His level of activity returned to baseline when feedback was withdrawn. In the second study, activity level of a 10-year-old hypoactive boy was increased over mean baseline level during conditioning in a free-play setting, and returned to slightly below baseline during five extinction trials. Results of these studies indicate that the biomotometer is a useful instrument for modification of activity level.     

TEACHING JANITORIAL SKILLS TO THE MENTALLY RETARDED: ACQUISITION,GENERALIZATION, AND MAINTENANCE

A task analysis of janitorial skills required for cleaning a restroom was performed. Six subtasks with a total of 181 component responses were identified. Subjects were required to progress through a series of four prompt levels ordered generally from more to less direct assistance for 20 of the most difficult component steps. Another series of four prompts, ordered from less to more direct assistance, was used to teach the other 161 responses. Subjects progressed to the next more intense prompt level contingent on a failure to respond appropriately with less assistance. A multiple baseline across subjects as well as the six subtasks was employed to evaluate the efficacy of the procedures. Six moderately retarded adolescents were trained in their public school. The results show rapid response acquisition, skill generalization to a second restroom, and maintenance of the newly learned behavior. The present research provides evidence of a model for analyzing and training vocational skills to the mentally retarded.